vir FLIGHT 271 
The fastest travelled at the rate of 27‘9 miles per hour. 
Pheasants were experimented on in the same way in the 
range and in the open: in the former case the greatest 
velocity was 33'8, in the latter 36:1 miles per hour. 
These experiments, made in a gallery where the air 
was perfectly still, or in the open, when there was little 
or no wind, lead us to conclusions very different from 
those which we draw from the records of the races of 
Homing Pigeons. All the best of these records are, 
as I have said, obtained on very favourable days, when 
there is a tail-wind blowing, the velocity of which has 
to be added to that due to the bird’s own exertions. 
But the difference seems to be too great to be ac- 
counted for in this way, even if we make no allowance 
for the fact that the Pigeon expends time and strength 
in circling to a height before starting for home, and 
for the probability that his course is not an absolute 
bee-line. It is possible that it is easier to attain great 
pace in rarefied air at a great height; at an altitude 
of 6,000 feet, the density of the air, as may be seen by 
referring to a mountaineer’s aneroid barometer, is only 
four fifths of what it is at the sea-level. It is true that 
such air will afford the bird less support, and that, 
therefore, the minimum pace that is necessary, if he 
is to maintain his level when gliding, is greater than 
in the denser air near the earth. But supposing that 
he can support himself, he will advance with greater 
rapidity since he will meet with less resistance. We 
1 See Charles Lancaster’s J//ustrated Treatise on the Art of 
Shooting, p. 175. Sir R. Payne-Gallwey (Letters to Young 
Shooters, p. 152) mentions similar experiments made by himself 
by aid of stop watches. 
